China Poultry Plant Fire- One of the Worst Factory Incidents in Years

Today, a devastating fire broke out at a poultry processing plant located in Jilin Province in northeastern China. The fire is being reported as one of the worst China factory disasters in years.

As we pen this commentary, 119 workers have been reported as killed with scores of other injured as workers were reported to be trapped inside the factory complex. According to news reports, 350 workers were inside the Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Company facility at the time of this incident which was in the early morning hours, local time, after a shift change. Reports further indicate that an explosion preceded this fire, as workers began to panic and rush toward factory exits. According to an Associated Press report, Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry produces 67,000 tons of processed chicken per year and employs upwards of 1200 workers.

The Guardian provides some rather dramatic videoof the thick smoke pouring out of the factory and a worker describing conditions. The New York Times quotes(paid subscription or free metered view) China’s Xinhua official news agency as reporting that “people responsible” in the company that operates this factory have been arrested. Xinhua also reported that both China’s prime minister and president both issued orders regarding this incident.

What is most disturbing are multiple media reports indicating that only one exit was available while other fire exits were locked. This again calls into question whether industry and government have made any progress relative to consistent and acceptable factory safety standards regarding fire safety. This fire incident in China comes at the timeof growing concern and media coverage over factory safety across Bangladesh.

While it is still rather early in the ongoing investigations, there will probably be further implications from this current incident. It is yet another reminder of the extent of factory safety standards across emerging economies and one that supply chain executives should be concerned about.

Since our June 3 posting, more information has come forth regarding the China poultry plant fire.

Tragically, 120 persons have died as a result of this incident while 77 were injured. Chinese government officials now confirm reports from workers that the factory had too few escape routes and most were locked at the time of the fire. One government safety official observed that the plant’s safety procedures were “a total mess” while other officials stated that the plant’s was built with combustible materials and was an enormous fire hazard.

The new President of China, Xi Jinping pledged to address China’s “deep-rooted” safety problems concerning production facilities. That statement alone should be evidence of further crackdowns on China plant safety measures in the days and weeks to come.